Foundation Maths 6e PDF Ebook - (7 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions)

Simplifying algebraic
expressions 7
Objectives: This chapter:
& describes a number of ways in which complicated algebraic expressions can
be simplified
7.1 Addition and subtraction of like terms
Like terms are multiples of the same quantity. For example, 3y, 72y and
0.5y are all multiples of y and so are like terms. Similarly, 5x 2 , 3x 2 and
1 2 2
2 x are all multiples of x and so are like terms. xy, 17xy and 91xy are
all multiples of xy and are therefore like terms. Like terms can be collected
together and added or subtracted in order to simplify them.
WORKED EXAMPLES
7.1 Simplify 3x þ 7x 2x.

Solution All three terms are multiples of x and so are like terms. Therefore
Copyright © 2016. Pearson Education, Limited. All rights reserved.
3x þ 7x 2x ¼ 8x.
7.2 Simplify 3x þ 2y.
Solution 3x and 2y are not like terms. One is a multiple of x and the other is a
multiple of y. The expression 3x þ 2y cannot be simplified.
7.3 Simplify x þ 7x þ x 2 .
Solution The like terms are x and 7x. These can be simplified to 8x. Then
x þ 7x þ x 2 ¼ 8x þ x 2 . Note that 8x and x 2 are not like terms and so this
expression cannot be simplified further.
7.4 Simplify ab þ a 2 7b 2 þ 9ab þ 8b 2 .
Davison, R., Croft, A., Davison, R., Croft, A., Davison, R., Croft, A., Davison, R., & Croft, A. (2016). Foundation maths 6e pdf ebook. Pearson Education, Limited.
Created from rhul on 2023-10-31 15:04:22.
7.2 & Multiplying algebraic expressions and removing brackets 71
Solution The terms ab and 9ab are like terms. Similarly the terms 7b 2 and 8b 2 are
like terms. These can be collected together and then added or subtracted as
appropriate. Thus
ab þ a 2 7b 2 þ 9ab þ 8b 2 ¼ ab þ 9ab þ a 2 7b 2 þ 8b 2
¼ 10ab þ a 2 þ b 2
Exercise 7.1
1. Simplify, if possible,
(a) 5p 10p þ 11q þ 8q (b) 7r 13s þ 2r þ z (c) 181z þ 13r 2
(d) x 2 þ 3y 2 2y þ 7x 2 (e) 4x 2 3x þ 2x þ 9
2. Simplify
(a) 5y þ 8p 17y þ 9q (b) 7x 2 11x 3 þ 14x 2 þ y 3 (c) 4xy þ 3xy þ y 2
(d) xy þ yx (e) xy yx
7.2 Multiplying algebraic expressions and removing

brackets
Recall that when multiplying two numbers together the order in which we
write them is irrelevant. For example, both 5 4 and 4 5 equal 20.
When multiplying three or more numbers together the order in which we
carry out the multiplication is also irrelevant. By this we mean, for
example, that when asked to multiply 3 4 5 we can think of this as
either (3 4) 5 or as 3 (4 5). Check for yourself that the result is the
same, 60, either way.
It is also important to appreciate that 3 4 5 could have been written
as (3)(4)(5).
It is essential that you grasp these simple facts about numbers in order to
understand the algebra that follows. This is because identical rules are
applied. Rules for determining the sign of the answer when multiplying
positive and negative algebraic expressions are also the same as those used
for multiplying numbers.
Key point When multiplying

positive positive ¼ positive
positive negative ¼ negative
negative positive ¼ negative
negative negative ¼ positive
72 Simplifying algebraic expressions
We introduce the processes involved in removing brackets using some

simple examples.
WORKED EXAMPLES
7.5 Simplify 3(4x).

Solution Just as with numbers 3(4x) could be written as 3 (4 x), and then as
(3 4) x, which evaluates to 12x.
So 3(4x) ¼ 12x.
7.6 Simplify 5(3y).
Solution 5(3y) ¼ 5 3 y ¼ 15y.
7.7 Simplify (5a)(3a).
Solution Here we can write (5a)(3a) ¼ (5 a) (3 a). Neither the order in which
we carry out the multiplications nor the order in which we write down the
terms matters, and so we can write this as
(5a)(3a) ¼ (5 3)(a a)
As we have shown, it is usual to write numbers at the beginning of an
expression. This simplifies to 15 a 2 , that is 15a 2 . Hence
(5a)(3a) ¼ 15a 2
7.8 Simplify 4x 2 7x 5 .
Solution Recall that, when multiplying, the order in which we write down the terms
does not matter. Therefore we can write
4x 2 7x 5 ¼ 4 7 x 2 x 5
which equals 28x 2 þ 5 ¼ 28x 7 .
7.9 Simplify 7(2b 2 ).
Solution 7(2b 2 ) ¼ 7 (2 b 2 ) ¼ (7 2) b 2 ¼ 14b 2 .
7.10 Simplify (a) (b)

Solution Here we have the product of a positive and a negative quantity. The result
will be negative. We write
(a) (b) ¼ ab
7.11 Explain the distinction between ab 2 and (ab) 2 .
Solution ab 2 means a b b whereas (ab) 2 means (ab) (ab) which equals
a b a b. The latter could also be written as a 2 b 2 .
7.12 Simplify (a) (6z)(8z); (b) (6z) þ (8z), noting the distinction between the
two results.
7.3 & Removing brackets from a(b þ c), a(b c), (a þ b)(c þ d) and (a þ b)(c d) 73
Solution (a) (6z)(8z) ¼ 48z 2 .

(b) (6z) þ (8z) is the addition of like terms. This simplifies to 14z.
7.13 Simplify (a) (6x)(2x), (b) (3y 2 )(2y).
Solution (a) (6x)(2x) means (6x) (2x), which equals 12x 2 .

(b) (3y 2 )(2y) ¼ (3y 2 ) (2y) ¼ 6y 3 .
Self-assessment questions 7.2
1. Two negative expressions are multiplied together. State the sign of the resulting product.
2. Three negative expressions are multiplied together. State the sign of the resulting product.
Exercise 7.2
1. Simplify each of the following: 7. Simplify each of the following:

(a) (4)(3)(7) (b) (7)(4)(3) (c) (3)(4)(7) (a) (abc)(a 2 bc) (b) x 2 y(xy)
(c) (xy 2 )(xy 2 )
2. Simplify
(a) 5 (4 2) (b) (5 4) 2 8. Explain the distinction, if any, between
(xy 2 )(xy 2 ) and xy 2 xy 2 .
3. Simplify each of the following:
(a) 7(2z) (b) 15(2y) (c) (2)(3)x 9. Explain the distinction, if any, between
(d) 9(3a) (e) (11)(5a) (f ) 2(3x) (xy 2 )(xy 2 ) and (xy 2 ) þ (xy 2 ):
In both cases simplify the expressions.
4. Simplify each of the following:
(a) 5(4x 2 ) (b) 3(2y 3 ) (c) 11(2u 2 ) 10. Simplify
(d) (2 4) u 2 (e) (13)(2z 2 ) (a) (3z)(7z) (b) 3z 7z
5. Simplify 11. Simplify
(a) (7x)(3x) (b) 3a(7a) (c) 14a(a) (a) (x)(3x) (b) x þ 3x
6. Simplify 12. Simplify
(a) 5y(3y) (b) 5y þ 3y (a) (2x)(x) (b) 2x x
Explain why the two results are not the
same.
7.3 Removing brackets from a(b þ c), a(b c),

(a þ b)(c þ d) and (a þ b)(c d)
Recall from your study of arithmetic that the expression (5 4) þ 7 is

different from 5 (4 þ 7) because of the position of the brackets. In order
to simplify an expression it is often necessary to remove brackets.
Removing brackets from expressions of the form

a(b þ c) and a(b c)
In an expression such as a(b þ c), it is intended that the a multiplies all the
bracketed terms:
Key point a(b þ c) ¼ ab þ ac Similarly: a(b c) ¼ ab ac
WORKED EXAMPLES
7.14 Remove the brackets from

(a) 6(x þ 5) (b) 8(2x 4)
Solution (a) In the expression 6(x þ 5) it is intended that the 6 multiplies both terms
in the brackets. Therefore
6(x þ 5) ¼ 6x þ 30
(b) In the expression 8(2x 4) the 8 multiplies both terms in the brackets
so that
8(2x 4) ¼ 16x 32
7.15 Remove the brackets from the expression 7(5x þ 3y).
Solution The 7 multiplies both the terms in the brackets. Therefore
7(5x þ 3y) ¼ 7(5x) þ 7(3y) ¼ 35x þ 21y
7.16 Remove the brackets from (x þ y).
Solution The expression (x þ y) actually means 1(x þ y). It is intended that the
1 multiplies both terms in the brackets, therefore
(x þ y) ¼ 1(x þ y) ¼ (1) x þ (1) y ¼ x y
7.17 Remove the brackets from the expression
(x þ y)z
Solution Note that the order in which we write down the terms to be multiplied does
not matter, so that we can write (x þ y)z as z(x þ y). Then
z(x þ y) ¼ zx þ zy
Alternatively, note that (x þ y)z ¼ xz þ yz, which is an equivalent form of
the answer.
7.18 Remove the brackets from the expressions
(a) 5(x 2y) (b) (x þ 3)(1)
VIDEO
Solution (a) 5(x 2y) ¼ 5x 5(2y) ¼ 5x 10y.

(b) (x þ 3)(1) ¼ (1)(x þ 3) ¼ 1x 3 ¼ x 3.
7.19 Simplify x þ 8(x y).

Solution An expression such as this is simplified by first removing the brackets and
then collecting together like terms. Removing the brackets we find
x þ 8(x y) ¼ x þ 8x 8y
Collecting like terms we obtain 9x 8y.
1 1
(a) 2 (x þ 2) (b) 2 (x 2) (c) 13 (a þ b)
Solution (a) In the expression 12 (x þ 2) it is intended that the 1
2 multiplies both the
terms in the brackets. So
1 1 1 1
(x þ 2) ¼ xþ (2) ¼ xþ1
2 2 2 2
(b) Similarly,
1 1 1 1
(x 2) ¼ x (2) ¼ x1
2 2 2 2
(c) In the expression 13(a þ b) the term 13 multiplies both terms in the
brackets. So
1 1 1
(a þ b) ¼ a b
3 3 3
Removing brackets from expressions of the form

(a þ b)(c þ d) and (a þ b)(c d)
In the expression (a þ b)(c þ d ) it is intended that the quantity (a þ b )
multiplies both the c and the d in the second brackets. Therefore
(a þ b)(c þ d ) ¼ (a þ b)c þ (a þ b)d
Each of these two terms can be expanded further to give

(a þ b)c ¼ ac þ bc and (a þ b)d ¼ ad þ bd
Therefore
Key point (a þ b)(c þ d ) ¼ ac þ bc þ ad þ bd
Similarly
(a þ b)(c d ) ¼ (a þ b)c (a þ b)d
This can be expanded to give
(a þ b)(c d ) ¼ ac þ bc ad bd
WORKED EXAMPLES
7.21 Remove the brackets from (3 þ x)(2 þ y).
Solution (3 þ x)(2 þ y) ¼ (3 þ x)(2) þ (3 þ x)y

¼ 6 þ 2x þ 3y þ xy
7.22 Remove the brackets from (x þ 6)(x 3).
Solution (x þ 6)(x 3) ¼ (x þ 6)x (x þ 6)3

¼ x 2 þ 6x 3x 18
¼ x 2 þ 3x 18
(a) (1 x)(2 x) (b) (x 2)(2x 1)
Solution (a) (1 x)(2 x) ¼ (1 x)2 ð1 xÞx

¼ 2 2x x þ x 2
¼ 2 3x þ x 2
(b) (x 2)(2x 1) ¼ (x 2)(2x) (x 2)1

¼ 2x 2 4x þ x þ 2
¼ 2x 2 3x þ 2
7.24 Remove the brackets from the expression 3(x þ 1)(x 1).
VIDEO
Solution First consider the expression (x þ 1)(x 1):

(x þ 1)(x 1) ¼ (x þ 1)x (x þ 1)1

¼ x2 þ x x 1
¼ x2 1
Then 3(x þ 1)(x 1) ¼ 3(x 2 1) ¼ 3x 2 3.
Exercise 7.3
1. Remove the brackets from 5. Remove the brackets and simplify the
(a) 4(x þ 1) (b) 4(x þ 1) following expressions:
(c) 4(x 1) (d) 4(x 1) (a) (x þ 3)(x 7) (b) (2x 1)(3x þ 7)
(c) (4x þ 1)(4x 1)
2. Remove the brackets from
(d) (x þ 3)(x 3) (e) (2 x)(3 þ 2x)
(a) 5(x y) (b) 19(x þ 3y)
(c) 8(a þ b) (d) (5 þ x)y 6. Remove the brackets and simplify the
(e) 12(x þ 4) (f ) 17(x 9) following expressions:
(g) (a 2b) (h) 12 (2x þ 1) 1 7
(i) 3m(2 þ 4m þ 3n) (a) (x þ 2y) þ (4x y)
2 2
3. Remove the brackets and simplify the
3 1
expressions: (b) (x 1) þ (2x þ 8)
(a) 18 13(x þ 2) (b) x(x þ y) 4 4
4. Remove the brackets and simplify the 7. Remove the brackets from
following expressions: (a) (x y) (b) (a þ 2b)
(a) (x þ 1)(x þ 6) (b) (x þ 4)(x þ 5) 1
(c) (3p þ q)
(c) (x 2)(x þ 3) (d) (x þ 6)(x 1) 2
(e) (x þ y)(m þ n) (f ) (4 þ y)(3 þ x) 8. Remove the brackets from
(g) (5 x)(5 þ x) (x þ 1)(x þ 2). Use your result to remove
(h) (17x þ 2)(3x 5) the brackets from (x þ 1)(x þ 2)(x þ 3).
Challenge Exercise 7
1. Remove the brackets and simplify the following expressions:

(a) ðx 2 þ 1Þðx 2 1Þ
!
1
(b) 1 ðx 2 xÞ
x
(c) ðx 2 þ x þ 1Þðx 2 x 1Þ
Test and assignment exercises 7
1. Simplify
(a) 7x 2 þ 4x 2 þ 9x 8x (b) y þ 7 18y þ 1 (c) a 2 þ b 2 þ a 3 3b 2
2. Simplify x3
(a) (3a 2 b) (a 3 b 2 c) (b)
x 2
(a) (a þ 3b)(7a 2b) (b) x 2 (x þ 2y) (c) x(x þ y)(x y)

(a) (7x þ 2)(3x 1) (b) (1 x)(x þ 3) (c) (5 þ x)x (d) (8x þ 4)(7x 2)
5. Remove the brackets and simplify the following expressions:
(a) 3x(x þ 2) 7x 2 (b) (2a þ 3b)(a þ b) (c) 4(x þ 7) þ 13(x 2)
1 3
(d) 5(2a þ 5) 3(5a 2) (e) (a þ 4b) þ a
2 2

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Simplifying algebraic

7.1 Addition and subtraction of like terms

7.1 Simplify 3x þ 7x 2x.

7.2 Multiplying algebraic expressions and removing

Key point When multiplying

We introduce the processes involved in removing brackets using some

7.5 Simplify 3(4x).

7.10 Simplify (a) (b)

Solution (a) (6z)(8z) ¼ 48z 2 .

Solution (a) (6x)(2x) means (6x) (2x), which equals 12x 2 .

Self-assessment questions 7.2

1. Simplify each of the following: 7. Simplify each of the following:

7.3 Removing brackets from a(b þ c), a(b c),

Recall from your study of arithmetic that the expression (5 4) þ 7 is

Removing brackets from expressions of the form

Key point a(b þ c) ¼ ab þ ac Similarly: a(b c) ¼ ab ac

7.14 Remove the brackets from

Solution (a) 5(x 2y) ¼ 5x 5(2y) ¼ 5x 10y.

7.19 Simplify x þ 8(x y).

Removing brackets from expressions of the form

Each of these two terms can be expanded further to give

Key point (a þ b)(c þ d ) ¼ ac þ bc þ ad þ bd

(a þ b)(c d ) ¼ (a þ b)c (a þ b)d

This can be expanded to give

7.21 Remove the brackets from (3 þ x)(2 þ y).

Solution (3 þ x)(2 þ y) ¼ (3 þ x)(2) þ (3 þ x)y

7.22 Remove the brackets from (x þ 6)(x 3).

Solution (x þ 6)(x 3) ¼ (x þ 6)x (x þ 6)3

7.23 Remove the brackets from

(a) (1 x)(2 x) (b) (x 2)(2x 1)

Solution (a) (1 x)(2 x) ¼ (1 x)2 ð1 xÞx

(b) (x 2)(2x 1) ¼ (x 2)(2x) (x 2)1

Solution First consider the expression (x þ 1)(x 1):

(x þ 1)(x 1) ¼ (x þ 1)x (x þ 1)1

Then 3(x þ 1)(x 1) ¼ 3(x 2 1) ¼ 3x 2 3.

1. Remove the brackets and simplify the following expressions:

Test and assignment exercises 7

4. Remove the brackets from

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